Adrift

Written after personal reconciliation with my entire past, and learning and re-learning the need to follow Christ in faith and trust. Written at Beauty From Ashes ministry in Hadlow, Tonbridge.

The water laps against the boat
The sea is calm, not stormy now;
Yet listlessness and lack of peace
Make living tedious, dull and slow

From whence came this, this wretched state
That haunts the mindset that was purged
Of ill-conceived naivety
And lack of knowledge, inter-merged?

From early days, till presently
Mixed messages from childhood borne;
Resided undisturbed until
The path was broken, mind re-born.

Thus far mended, this stormy life
Is now adrift upon the sea;
Uncertain, aimless, full of fear
Distant the thought of being free.

A vision seen in former times
And places, fills the mind, for now;
A person walks towards the boat
Then holds its edge, steps in to row.

He sits down, opposite to me
And as he does so, grips the oars;
His eyes ablaze with dazzling light
And yet no speech, no wise discourse.

And as he rows, I sit and watch
Relieved of burden, toil and woe;
The oarsman’s rugged face displays
The answer to life’s ebb and flow.

The oarsman speeds the boat along
His hand is firm, his grip is sure;
A sense of reassurance comes
From rugged face, and heart so pure.

The shoreline strewn with human life
And need, is passed by constantly;
There is no port to anchor there
Nor was there ever meant to be.

Past dreams and visions come to mind
Of presence loving, good and true;
Of golden thrones and blazing light
Forgiving errors, old and new.

A gentle realisation dawns
About the oarsman, we must note;
His ways are not our ways at all
It is the Lord who rows the boat.